Predictors of behavioral health unit readmission within 30 days of discharge: A retrospective study

Several studies have aimed to describe associated demographic and psychiatric risk factors that would lead to readmission to a behavioral health unit within 30 days of discharge. Here we considered 1,095 patients that were discharged from Millcreek Community Hospital (MCH) in Erie, Pennsylvania between June 2018 and June 2019. We extracted electronic medical data and analyzed various risk factors using a SPSS software and performed Chi square analysis to determine significance. We determined that patients between the age 30–39 that were diagnosed with major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder, and patients that had 12 or more previous behavioral health admissions were significantly more likely to be readmitted within 30 days of discharge. By analyzing risk factors that lead to a higher percentage of readmission rates, physicians can be more readily equipped and prepared while treating inpatient psychiatric patients. These physicians can take more precautionary measures when discharging patients with specific characteristic profiles to prevent the risk of being readmitted within 30 days of discharge.